In The Long Run

Thoughts and BELIEFS:

(BELIEF is my chosen word for 2026 - what is yours?)

Hello Reader,

I wasn't planning to watch, but once I saw her on the court, I couldn't take my eyes off her.

Serena Williams returned to Wimbledon. I've always admired her, as an athlete and subsequent entrepreneur.

She almost died after the birth of her first child in 2017, and has had several health struggles since. It has been three years and a second child since she last competed.

There were many stories regarding her comeback, but the one that piqued my interest involved her physicality.

She is now 44 and her opponent was 20. She was also planning to compete in doubles with her sister, Venus.

Her ability to serve the ball at 120 mph and return it with accuracy was worth watching by itself.

She "lost" the match, but gave everyone a thrill. She seemed genuinely happy to be back. At one point, one of the commentators thought she "might be favoring her knee."

A few days later, she posted "yikes" and showed four syringes of fluid. She said the fluid was from her right knee, and she was heartbroken that she and Venus wouldn't be able to compete.

"She did whisper to me, 'I would have won if I had a good knee,'" said Rennae Stubbs, Serena's assistant coach.

I read a few articles about Serena following the match and withdrawal. One line stood out to me the most:

The only real issue was her movement.

Let's think about that statement: how much of tennis involves movement??

Serena's coach has said "Her intention is to keep playing; the US Open as well." Serena said "the good news is my knee shouldn't swell or collect that much fluid again."

Shouldn't?

"As long as physically she can go -- and I'm hoping in a few weeks that's the case -- get her back on the court and hitting balls," Stubbs said.

Hitting balls on the court "shouldn't" cause the knee to swell.

However, tennis is a sport that involves sudden pivots, lunges, and explosive agility.

Athletes wanting to return to sports need to ensure their bodies are prepared and durable to handle significant loads on tissues.

Especially aging tissues that feel like beef jerky instead of pliable bands without adequate care.

I'm not saying it can't be done - Tom Brady did it. However, I don't recall his knee requiring aspiration.

From recreational to professional, I love ANY athlete making a comeback. Just as long as their body comes back too.

As an active midlife woman with a recent effusion, Serena's game has changed. She has much to discuss with her coaches, team, family, and ultimately, herself.

Movement is everything — in tennis, in running, in the life you want to keep living.

Has something been getting in the way of yours? A nagging issue you've been ignoring, hoping it resolves on its own?

You don't need four syringes of fluid to take it seriously.

Hit reply and tell me what's going on.

Walking (or running) beside you — one step at a time.

Coach Nikki

"Trifecta" of Movement

Runners would rather run, but we know we have to do strength work too.

I'm often asked, "What's the LEAST amount of exercise that I need to do?"

My answer? I don't know.

What I do know is that if you choose the right movements, it's amazing how much you can tax your body in a short amount of time.

Try these 3 exercises, and see if you were breathing as hard as I was at the end!

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On A Personal Note

Last week, my immediate family had a scare. Specifically, my parents:

This is the Aspen Acres fire in Southern CO. It has grown to over 96,000 acres, and only 15% contained. They have over 1500 personnel from multiple states.

In all of the (almost) 20 years since my parents built their log home, never was a fire this big, or close. It came within 10 miles!

I felt so fortunate that I was able to go down and stay with them. We constantly monitored news, apps, and the internet for updates.

The first night of the fire, (before I arrived) my siblings and I begged them to evacuate. They were on the border of an evacuation zone, and the fire went from 0-22K acres.

Luckily, they were able to return to their home the next morning, and have been there since. Over 250 structures have been burned, and many folks lost everything.

I have a new respect for fire, first responders, volunteers, pilots and so many selfless folks in the community. Ironically, one of my high school girlfriends has a son who's Hotshot Crew was sent from MI. (Thank you Jimmy!)

We are incredibly grateful their home was spared, and we continue to pray for the entire community - animals too.😢 ❤️🙏

If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about JSR Coaching/Injury or Performance Consult - hit reply, and we'll have a chat!

​CLICK HERE TO WORK WITH COACH NIKKI​

Thank you so much for reading, and please forward this to your friends!

Have a question or a topic request? CONTACT COACH NIKKI